Mr. Jenningsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has yet received from the Trent River Board details of the scheme to build a flood-prevention bank at Branston, Burton-on-Trent; and when he will be prepared to approve such a scheme.
§ Mr. John HareI understand that the Trent River Board hopes to submit proposals in the course of the next few weeks. Approval will, of course, depend upon the result of the examination of the proposals.
Mr. Jenningsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in the setting up of the experimental hydraulic model to deal with the cleansing of the River Trent at Burton-on-Trent; where the model is operating; and when he expects to receive a report on the experiment.
§ Mr. John HareThe Hydraulics Research Station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is now able to provide accommodation for an experimental model, and construction is expected to start in April. The model would come into operation towards the end of the summer and would run until the end of the year, after which the D.S.I.R.'s report to the Trent River Board would be prepared.
Mr. Jenningsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that on Tuesday, 11th February, 1958, the River Trent at Burton overflowed its banks, that many acres of land were under water, that the rise was rapid, and that the position was aggravated by the fact that the river and side-streams were becoming increasingly silted; and what steps he will take to rid these river courses of silt.
§ Mr. John HareThe flooding on 11th February, 1958, was an overflow on to the washlands. I will invite the attention of the Trent River Board to the suggestion that siltation aggravated the position.